You’re invited to a Civil War lecture series sponsored by the Anoka County Historical Society starting in September. Most of the free lectures will be held at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 3rd Av. N., Anoka. For more information, call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org.

The schedule includes:

• “Soldiers Aid Society,” 7 p.m. Sept. 5.

• A tour of Oakwood, Anoka’s oldest cemetery, 2 p.m. Oct. 5.

• “The Gettysburg Address,” 7 p.m. Nov. 7.

Chasing ghosts in Anoka County

“Ghosts of Anoka” tours will be offered at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in September and October.

Registration at the Anoka County History Center is required. Call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for Historical Society members and $5 for children.

GOLDEN VALLEY

‘Showtime’ chorus welcomes new singers

Showtime is a chorus of seniors, both men and women, age 55-plus, who rehearse every Thursday from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at the Sandburg Learning Center, 2400 Sandburg Lane, Golden Valley.

New members are invited to come to any rehearsal. Female tenors are welcome.

The chorus sings old favorites, show tunes and some newer pop tunes. They perform about twice a month for senior residences, community centers, church groups, care centers and community events. For more information, call 612-250-1417.

ARDEN HILLS

Koomen honored by Business Journal

Johannes “Jan” Koomen, clinical administrator at Johanna Shores senior living community in Arden Hills, has been named the 2013 Outstanding Nurse in Long Term Care by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

BLAINE

Event raises $88,000 to fight cancer

The Stick It to Cancer Women’s Hockey Tournament held at Blaine’s National Sports Center in April raised more than $88,000 to help combat breast cancer, organizers say. Proceeds will be donated to the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota.

This year’s tournament featured a total of 97 girls’ and women’s hockey teams from around the Midwest. Most of the teams were from Minnesota, but North Dakota, Ontario, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin also were represented.

RAMSEY

City’s credit rating reaffirmed

Ramsey’s credit rating was reaffirmed recently by Standard & Poor’s at AA+ for a 2013 general obligation bond sale as well as for its existing debt. The agency said the city’s financial outlook is stable.

The city’s rating is the second highest issued by the agency.

Standard & Poor’s said its rating reflects its analysts’ view that Ramsey has moderate debt levels, very strong financial reserves and income, and strong property market value per capita.

“Offsetting these strengths,” said the agency’s report, “is the city’s declining assessed [property] valuation in recent fiscal years, although this is slightly mitigated by tax increment financing projects expiring and coming back onto the tax roll.”

BROOKLYN CENTER

Center facilities to be closed Sept. 2-8

The Brooklyn Center Community Center pool, exercise room, sauna and water slide will be closed Sept. 2-8 for annual maintenance. City offices will be closed Labor Day, but open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

The mayor of a traditionally liberal Wisconsin city has ordered the removal of a cemetery's monuments to Confederate soldiers, saying the Civil War was "a defense of the deplorable practice of slavery" and "an act of insurrection and treason."